June 27, 2023

 

Linda Shewmaker and Sheryl May, sisters of Bruce Crane, from the area around Burley, spent a few days here with Bruce and his wife Shauna roaming the hills and remembering their childhoods years in Mink Creek. Their parents are Rex and Brucia Crane. No matter where they might live the love of home in Mink Creek is strong. They managed to pick some of the warmer days and avoid the recent storms.

The Crosland family has had multiple gatherings during the last month. Parents, Robert and Phee spent a few days in Moroni, UT, Robert’s hometown, during the Memorial Day weekend. Nearly the whole family were able to get together a week later to support Angelo and Karissa Crosland as they were sealed in the Rexburg Temple. Celina and Jesse Groesbeck came down from Boise for the naming and blessing of their newest daughter, giving her the name Willow Groesbeck. Mario and Amanda Crosland of Smithfield, UT, Arianna and Ben Hostetter of Peyton, CO, Armando Crosland of Arlington, VA, Rico Crosland of Portland OR, Jason and Malia Kunde of Rigby, ID, Giovanni and Kristina Crosland of Franklin, ID, were all able to celebrate with the family. It isn’t often they can schedule things to all be together.

The Young Women group enjoyed a fitting activity connected with horses. Several of the girls participate in various rodeo events and, in this way, those who don’t rodeo had a better chance to understand their love of the sport. They were assisted and instructed by one of the fathers, Kerry Christensen, who has three girls that rodeo.

Terrie Carr and her daughter Courtney were up for a weekend with Mary Jean Rasmussen, Terrie’s mom and Terrie’s brother Kim Rasmussen. The Carr family lives in Centerville, UT.

The wild grasses are already long, and that is a good thing when it is the pasture for cows. Not such a good thing when the high grass blocks the view of drivers as they turn from our side roads onto Highway 36, the main route through our village.

That first day of summer has come and gone, and still our outdoor temperatures are reasonable, even chilly now and again. But the first hay crop is in the process. Some has gotten rained on, so the raking, drying system had to be put in place. It is always a sigh of relief to get those bales finished up, and even in the barn or stack.

June 20, 2023

 

Friends and the family of Marion Jenny Engels Haws gathered in Mink Creek for her graveside service in the Mink Creek Cemetery. Her husband Karl and their seven children, spouses and grandchildren and great grandchildren participated in the services with song and memories shared. The Engel/Haws family have always had more than one place of residence: California and Mink Creek, Idaho, for nearly sixty years. Now the descendants are a little more scattered, California still, some in Utah and some living year-round in Idaho.

Three young women participated in the High School Rodeo event held a few weeks ago in Preston. They were Ella Jepsen, daughter of Kerry and Melinda Jepsen, and two sisters, Annie and Josie Christensen, daughters of Dan and Casey Christensen. Josie placed 3^rd in the Jr. High Division and qualified to participate in the National Jr. High Rodeo held in Georgia. Annie competed again at the Idaho State high school rodeo in Pocatello.

Spring, for real, brought Hansen siblings and their spouses home for a weekend at the Hansen House on the banks of the roaring Mink Creek. Wes Hansen is from Ogden, Roxanne Beutler lives in Dayton and Pat Bowles lives in Fairview. It was a time of many memories, laughter and fun.

The Trek to the Seller’s Ranch by members of the Preston Idaho North Stake was one of much anticipation and it didn’t disappoint. The countryside and camp offered a mix of pushingand pulling of handcarts, lots of walking. Mud, snow on the ground, rain and sunshine were part of their days, but somehow the heavy wet weather that had been forecast skirted their area. Mink Creek had two handcart families. Trevor and April Rasmussen were the parents of one cart, Claudine and LaMar McKague parenting the second one. The fourteen youth on the Trek were Emma and Kate Rasmussen, Conner Iverson, Morgan and Danny Keller, Clara Jones, Devlyn and Larien Currie, Jared Cheney, Jyllian and Greenlee Christensen, Orrin and Hazen Baird, and Emma Rydalch. Other adults accompanying the group were Bishop Paul and Terrie McKay, Dallon Baird and Jesse Wilcox.

You’ve all heard “make hay while the sun shines”, when this is applied to a hay crop it is the major wish. We have recently had some sunshine and acres of hay were mown. Just a couple of days following the cold and the rains hit. The hay is at a stage where there are two choices, cut and risk the rain, or let it grow and have the weevil infestation devour the hay leaves. “Life on the farm.”

June 13, 2023

  Signs of repair are taking place at some of the farm buildings that suffered from the weight of the snow on their roofs this winter.  Even if the whole structure is disappearing after being broken up it is a positive thing.   It is a time of helping each other, always a good thing.

Jeff and Kaylene K. Hill were up from Taylorsville, UT, with some of their family. It was the weekend of the Lewis and Clark Volunteers, a Mountain Man group who do a Rendezvous that takes place at the Vernon Keller farm. Due to the high waters of Mink Creek at the usual campground the Volunteers moved onto higher ground than in the past. Kim and Dianna Keller still live on the farm.

True signs of summer; our off-and-on residents are coming to enjoy our green surroundings. Larry and Lillian Hansen are back on Bear Creek. Jeff and Julie Workman have made a couple of visits. The children of Eldon and Danita Wilcox are taking turns coming, lately it was Ami and Tom Fenton and their crew from Utah and Brigham and Jenipher Wilcox and their children from Idaho Falls.

There has been some repair work going on for the Preston Canal, which takes water from Mink Creek. It is now known as the Consolidated Irrigation Company. Shoring up canal banks is a job for heavy equipment and needs savvy operators.

Jonia Jackson was sustained as the 2^nd Counselor in the Mink Creek Ward Relief Society. Already the group has a hike planned in the near future. It is a fitting activity when living in hiking country.

The family and friends of Marion Jenny Engel Haws gathered in the Mink Creek Cemetery on June 3^rd as she was laid to rest in the family plot. Her husband Karl and their seven children and spouses, plus grandchildren and some great-grands were able to enjoy the beautiful day and the service conducted by the Haws children. Mink Creek has been a second home for these California people for over half a century. Marion passed away on May 14, and a funeral was held in California.

Some fierce winds came whipping through our valley doing some serious damage to trees and branches. Hefty limbs were detached from trees lining Birch Creek Road. The center of the village seemed the hardest hit with reports from homeowners Stuart and Alona Ostler, Tom and Donna Nicholls, and Reed Swann and his daughter Penny.

June 7, 2023

The Relief Society held a “cruise in” for the month of May and scheduled Munching, Mingling and Ministering as the items of attraction. They broke the ice with a game of “Hotcha” and candy treats of three varieties of M& Ms: plain, peanut, and peanut butter. The real munchies turned out to be sliders, fruit and veggies, a salsa mix and chips. Each person attending received a race car, an edible one designed by Mary Jean Rasmussen. The recreation hall was decorated in psychedelic décor with lots of color. The Ministering Minstrels, also known as Kathy Goff, Jasmine Erickson, Natalie Forbush,and Cecelie Costley put on a skit with some musical assists from Margret and Kurt Iverson and Wynn Costley. Rebecca Jones, who has been the 2^nd counselor in the Relief Society presidency shared her thoughts on living in our community of Mink Creek during the last few months, including this winter experience.

Dean and Rebecca Jones and their daughter Clara moved to Idaho last summer, knowing it was a temporary arrangement. Clara has been attending Preston High School. They have now moved back to Washougal, WA.

The Mink Creek Originals are scheduled to have their annual reunion at the Mink Creek Ballpark on June 10^th, starting at 11 a.m. Jeff and Barbara Olson are in charge this year and they encourage those attending to bring outdoor lounge chairs for comfort. A brown bag lunch can be purchased ahead of time by contacting Jeff.

It has been awhile since we had a visit from Rita Warburton Cargill. Living in California, she was in Idaho recently for the wedding celebration of her nephew, Brandon Olson, son of Tracy and Cherise Olson of Franklin.

Jon Jepsen of Salt Lake area has been up to give his brother Mike Jepsen a hand with some of the spring work. Mike recently had some back surgery, but is up and going in nearly his usual style.

The chokecherry trees, both wild and domestic are full of blossoms and the scent is heady. If the weather now coming along will cooperate it could be a great season for the harvesting of chokecherries. Visions of syrups and jelly, flavored applesauce, etc., doing the mental dance.

Our waterways are still flowing high, but dropping. We are well aware that this season could have been much more threatening than it has been.  Efforts are being made to salvage some of the wreckage from those outbuildings with caved roofs. 

May 31, 2023

 

The risk of planting gardens is being taken with consideration given as to which plants are likely to withstand a freeze. The feeling of getting a late start is upon us, but there is a constant awareness of the fickle weather, particularly after the winter months we have endured and viewing snow still in our upper mountains to the east. Our fruit trees are bursting with blossoms, almost as if they couldn’t wait, all varieties at the same time, and there is that special scent in the air of an orchard.

There was a good turnout of willing workers for the semi-annual highway cleanup. It began at the Mink Creek ballpark at 8 a.m. with assigned areas, sending out laborers north and south, empty trash bags in hand. Most of those involved returned to the park when their task was completed for a breakfast to revive their spirits and start people on to their own chores.

Mink Creek’s Naomi Wilde will be turning 108 on the sixth of June. Her family is having a celebration for her on June 14^th at the Grace Assisted Living in Chubbuck, ID between noon and around 3:30 p.m. There will be a BBQ, followed by Naomi’s favorite, ice cream. This year she has chosen to go for a horse and buggy ride for her treat. She came into this world on a horse and buggy so this is a perfect match. Anyone who would like to drop by to visit will be welcome.

The youth of the community have been preparing for upcoming Trek with hiking our mountain slopes. Enjoying the beautiful spring views and the blooming of spring in the wild. Multiple flowers to identify, cascades of color, plenty of places for climbing and getting in shape. Their destination will be the Seller’s Ranch near Bone, ID. One of their assignments is to find suitable pioneer type clothing, similar to what would have been worn in the 1850’s of our nation.

The Mink Creek Cemetery was at its usual best for this weekend. Pictures of those resting there were enjoyed by the many visitors. A couple of rain showers passed through over the few days, the wind tipping over some floral arrangements, but mainly the nature’s watering system just brightened things. The usual field of golden mule’s ear flowers that stretches to the east is in full bloom.

May 23, 2023

 

This May is a month for changes. We have been waiting and hoping and finally we have had spring arrive. It may be short because temperatures are already heading toward summertime. Some of those changes may involve graduation from various educational institutions.

Three of our youth are graduating from high school. They are Davanie Ostler, daughter of Stuart and Alona Ostler; Liberty Stanworth, daughter of Kaci Baldwin; and Samantha Petersen, daughter of Brian and Jill Petersen. Now is a time for big decisions for the months ahead.

Rico Crosland graduated from BYU/Idaho in Rexburg and has already had some break time away from studies and moved to Logan while making future plans.

Benjamin Seamons and his wife Mollie have both graduated from Utah State University. Ben graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Applied Mathematics and three minors in Biomathematics, Biology and Chemistry. His goal is that of becoming a doctor, so he is well onto that path. Mollie Seamons graduated with a degree in Dietetics. Ben is serving an internship at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City for the coming summer months.

David and Melanie Law of Kaysville, UT, spent some time at their Mink Creek home, grateful to have the snow receded sufficiently so they could enjoy being here. They brought friends, a roommate of Melanie’s from their college days.

Devin and Maria Flake and their son Jude spent a weekend with her mother Lana and Ivan McCracken. The Flakes live in Orem, UT.

Candy Longhurst took a dream vacation to Italy, one of those “once in a lifetime” experiences. She made new friends within her travel companions that will last forever. One of Candy’s favorite activities is hiking and she had plenty of opportunities in that way to see the beautiful scenery of Italy.  Besides the lovely countryside the group visited the usual tourist spots, spent some time at the ocean, and enjoyed wonderful Italian food.

We’ve had some rain recently. I wouldn’t call the storms “spring showers,” more like cloud bursts of relatively short duration. The rain has only served to make things still greener, but adding a bit more to our already full waterways. The blossoms on the budding fruit trees are intact thus far. However the various fruits are not blooming in turns as is the usual, instead they are all in flower at the same time, just couldn’t wait with lateness of the season.

May 16, 2023

 

The green green grass of home is suddenly very much in evidence. The mountain tops are still white but we are enjoying the arrival of spring, some warm days feeling nearly summer, some days chilly, but the forever hope is upon us.

Members of the Syringa chapter of the DUP(Daughters of Utah Pioneers) met this month in the home of Ramona Lower Hatchett in Riverdale. This was their closing social for the year and it was a potluck affair. Julie Westerberg gave a fun lesson about the development of the railroads coming west with some entertaining anecdotes from the past.

Mike and MaryAnn Jepsen had some days with their son Jared and his two sons. The younger Jepsens live in the St. George area.

Jeff and Barbara Olson drove down to South Jordan in Utah for a family event. Jeff’s daughter Leslie and Jared Nehmer were blessing Jeff’s newest grandson, giving him the name of Townes David Nehmer.

Hazen Baird is part of PHS Track and Field team. He was awarded 3^rd place in the triple jump at a high school invitational track meet at Skyview High School in Smithfield, UT. Congratulations, Hazen!

Eldon and Danita Wilcox spoke in a meeting of the Mink Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to share experiences that they have had this past year as missionaries at the Church Historic Site in Harmony, PA. They conducted tours around the site as well as doing service in the area. Much of their immediate family attended this report. Of course Jesse and Annavelyn Wilcox life in Mink Creek, Jeff and Elise Hardy and family are in Ogden, MaKenzie and Tyson Gunter and children of Arimo, Brittany Durrant and her girls live in Sandy, UT. Jenipher, Brigham Wilcox’s wife and children were down from Idaho Falls, but Brigham had to work that weekend. Two of Danita’s siblings were here: Jay and Vachelle Higbee of Perry, UT, and Brad and RaOne Stuart of Bountiful. A cousin, Jay and Joyce Christensen, dropped over from Pocatello. Very nearly an entire “family reunion.”

Hillside wild flowers are suddenly bursting into bloom, the delayed curlies, not too thick, but putting in an appearance, the mule’s ears that cover whole slopes. We’ve had some strong night winds that have snapped off some tree branches here and there, but I haven’t heard of any severe damage.